England's Caddick, Croft opt out of India tour

Pace bowler Andrew Caddick and spinner Robert Croft have opted out of England's tour of India, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday.

But batsman Marcus Trescothick, all-rounder Craig White and left-arm spinner Ashley Giles have decided to take part.

The five players were granted more time to decide after being named in a 16-man squad last week for the test and one-day series due to begin on November 14.

The tour was thrown into doubt following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington and the subsequent U.S.-led raids on Afghanistan.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney reiterated, however, that the decisions made by Caddick and off-spinner Croft would not be held against them in the future.

"I realise that it has been a very difficult decision for all concerned," he said.

Captain Nasser Hussain added: "I fully respect and appreciate both Andrew and Robert's decisions."

EVENTS HIT

Several sporting events have since been hit in recent weeks.

The Ryder Cup was postponed after the U.S. team decided against playing in England, while the Australian rugby league team cancelled their tour to England before changing their mind.

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams, meanwhile, have pulled out of a series of European tennis events in recent weeks.

Replacements for Croft and Caddick will be named later this week. Caddick's absence will mean England will be robbed of their first-choice pace attack after Darren Gough earlier made himself unavailable for the tour.

Caddick said: "My choice does not reflect any lack of commitment to English cricket...had circumstances been different, I would love to have toured India.

"Turning down the opportunity to represent my country is something I would never have believed possible."

YOUNG FAMILY

But he said he was not "100 percent confident" that his young family were happy for him to tour.

England play three Tests in December before playing a one-day series in January.

Several players, including Hussain, had expressed concerns about their safety.

Croft added: "I could not guarantee full commitment to the England team, knowing that my family would worry about my safety.

"I have many Indian friends and, for all concerned, I am very disappointed."

Despite Tuesday's announcement by the ECB, however, the uncertainty of England's tour to India may not be over.

John Carr, ECB director of cricket operations, is to make a trip to India on Wednesday with a representative from the Professional Cricketers' Association to check on security arrangements.

England do not fly out for another two weeks and batsman Mark Butcher has already said he could still pull out if the situation worsened on the subcontinent.

Carr, however, said: "The Indian authorities have a great deal of experience in implementing appropriate security measures and we look forward to undertaking a successful tour both on and off the pitch."

Mail Cricket Editor